Scripture to Read: Luke 18:9-14
We continue to examine pride and humility. Pride can be easily masked in our lives through hard work. What? That is right; we can get so caught up with our “work-life” because we start thinking that no one can do what we do, or no one can do it as well as we do it. That is PRIDE and that is ungodly. There is no doubt that we must do our work well. God makes it clear in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” So, what we do, we are to do in a manner that glorifies our Lord. Then God makes it more specific in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” So, even in our work, we must understand that we are serving our Lord and not just a job. But, when we prioritize our work to the degree that we neglect our time with our Lord, our spouse, our kids, in serving others, in making disciples, in sharing Christ with lost people, then we have become too prideful about our work. We have fallen prey to doing our work to please ourselves or possibly to impress others. God will not share His glory with us or with anyone else. All glory goes to Him, so what we do ought to always honor and glorify Him and not ourselves. We must guard our hearts against pride.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about pride?
2. How has this type of pride gotten you distracted at times and what will you do to guard against it?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!